An illustrated history of Klickitat, Yakima and Kittitas counties; with an outline of the early history of the state of Washington, Part 166

Author: Interstate publishing co., Chicago, pub
Publication date: 1904
Publisher: [Chicago] Interstate publishing company
Number of Pages: 1146

USA > Washington > Kittitas County > An illustrated history of Klickitat, Yakima and Kittitas counties; with an outline of the early history of the state of Washington > Part 166
USA > Washington > Yakima County > An illustrated history of Klickitat, Yakima and Kittitas counties; with an outline of the early history of the state of Washington > Part 166
USA > Washington > Klickitat County > An illustrated history of Klickitat, Yakima and Kittitas counties; with an outline of the early history of the state of Washington > Part 166

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

Charles W. Gibbons, the subject of this re- view, received his education in the common schools of Kansas, his mother having removed to that state shortly after his father's death, which occurred when Mr. Gibbons was but two years old. He remained at home with his mother un- til twenty-eight and in 1886 took her with him on a trip abroad, the two remaining across the water for a period of eight months. On his return he again settled in Kansas, whence, in 1895, he drove overland to Oregon, the trip consuming three months. He followed farming in the Willamette valley for six years, then came to Yakima county and filed on his present homestead, sixty acres of which he has already placed in cultivation.

In the state of Kansas in the year 1890, Mr. Gibbons married Mrs. Nellie Donohew, whose father was William F. Foster, a native of New York state and a farmer by occupation. Mr. Fos- ter removed to Pennsylvania when quite young and followed farming there for several years. In 1871 he changed his residence to Illinois and after seven years spent in that state he again moved, this time going to Kansas, where he lived for nine- teen years. In 1897 he came westward to Califor- nia, of which state he is still a resident. He is of English lineage and a direct descendant of the Fosters who came to this land in the Mayflower in the early part of the seventeenth century. Mrs. Foster, whose maiden name was Lnicy L. Coe, was likewise born in New York state.

But to return to Mrs. Gibbons-she was born in Illinois in 1872 and educated in the public schools of Kansas, to which state she came with her parents when seven years old. She was mar- ried to her first husband, J. B. Donohew, in 1887, but he only lived three months, and she married her present husband a year later. She and Mr. Gibbons are parents of five children, of whom Eunice Gibbons, born in Kansas, November 17, 1891, is the oldest. Ralph F., next of age, was born in the same state two years later and Maria A. was born on the 24th of October, 1894. Don-

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ald E. and Donna E., twins, are natives of the Willamette valley, Oregon, born April 11, 1898. Mr. Gibbons takes great interest in church work, being at present time steward of the Methodist church in his neighborhood and superintendent of its Sunday school. Fraternally, he is a member of the Ancient Order of United Workmen, and in politics, a Republican. Energetic and success- ful in business, and in all the relations of life, "four-square to every breeze," all his neighbors and associates are his friends.

EUGENE L. MACE is one of the substantial farmers residing in the Glade, twelve miles south- west of Mabton. He is one of Washington's pio- neers, also, having come to this state with his par- ents in 1873, and resided here since that time. Mr. Mace was born July 18, 1867, in Iowa, his parents being John C. and Mary J. (Holbrook) Mace. The father was a native of Ohio, the year of his birth being 1842. He went to Iowa when a boy. When he came to Washington he drove to Omaha, rode by train to Utah, and drove the re- mainder of the journey to Walla Walla. His death occurred there in 1877. Mary (Holbrook) Mace, who is still living in Walla Walla, was born in Vermont in 1843, and was married, when twenty-three years old, in Iowa. For several years previous to her marriage she taught school. Mr. Mace was of English descent; his wife of German extraction. Eugene L. Mace remained at home until he was fifteen years old, then entered the em- ploy of R. Webb as a range rider. For five years he continued at this work, meanwhile accumulat- ing a small herd of cattle of his own; then he rented his mother's farm and followed farming and stock raising there until the spring of 1891. At that time he came to Yakima county and set- tled in the Glade, the date of his filing being 1891. He has been successful in his undertakings and now owns four hundred and eighty acres of fine land, of which half a section is under cultivation, also a band of fifty horses, and other stock.

Mr. Mace was married at The Dalles, Decem- ber 14, 1902, to Miss Saloma Leminger. Her par- ents are John and Saloma (Fenney ) Leminger, now residing at The Dalles. Both father and mother were born in Ohio and were there married. After a residence in Indiana and Nebraska, in 1894, the family came to The Dalles. Mr. Leminger is of German descent. Mrs. Mace is a native of Mer- cer county, Ohio, born in 1873, and was educated in the common schools of Indiana. One child has blessed this union, Lois W., born September 25, 1903. Mr. Mace is affiliated with the Modern Woodmen of America and in political affairs is associated with the Republican party. Both he and his wife are fortunate in possessing a host of warm friends and Mr. Mace has won for himself

an enviable position among the citizenry of his community.

ABRAHAM L. DILLEY. Twelve years of faithful service as an officer of the law in Yakima county as sheriff, deputy sheriff and United States marshal stand to the credit of the subject of this biography-a record in itself sufficient to give him prominence in the county's history. Aside from this, however, Mr. Dilley is an 1877 pioneer, and is a popular, influential citizen, well known from the headwaters of the Yakima to its mouth and from the Columbia to the British line. The son of Andrew B. and Elizabeth (MacKey) Dilley, he was born in Marion county, Oregon, in December, 1865. The elder Dilley, who died in 1902, was a native of Pennsylvania. He settled in Iowa when a young man and thence in 1863 crossed the Plains with oxen to the Willamette valley, living there until 1877. Then he came to Washington Territory and was for many years a resident of the Ahtanum valley. His death oc- curred in Nebraska. The mother was born in Ohio and was married in Pennsylvania, ten chil- dren being born to this union. She departed this life in January, 1902. Abraham was twelve years old when his parents brought him to the Ahtanum home. A few years later, having secured an edu- cation in the district schools, he took up the life of most young men then living in the region- that of riding the range. When eighteen years old he made an eighteen months' sojourn in the Sound region, then returned to Yakima county and entered the industries of hop and cattle rais- ing. He was thus engaged until January, 1891, when he entered Sheriff Simmons' office and served under him four years. In 1894, as the candidate of the Republican party, he was elected sheriff of the county and served in that capacity one term. In the spring of 1897 Mr. Dilley was appointed deputy United States marshal, and filled the posi- tion five years with the same commendable zeal and ability as he had shown while in the sheriff's office. Again in 1902 he was nominated by the Republicans for sheriff, but was defeated in a stir- ring campaign by Sheriff Grant. The following March Mr. Dilley settled upon a homestead claim in the Glade, where he has since resided, engaged in farming and stock raising.

Sheriff Dilley was united in marriage to Miss Ora M. Dustin, of Goldendale, in that town in 1896. She is the daughter of Hiram and Rachel (Smith) Dustin. Mr. Dustin immigrated to the Northwest from his native state, Iowa, in the fif- ties, and is now engaged in the practice of law at Goldendale. Mrs. Dustin was born in Ohio and was married to Mr. Dustin at the age of eight- een. Her parents were pioneers of The Dalles. Mrs. Dustin passed out of life's portal while a

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resident of Klickitat county in 1893. In Wash- ington county, Oregon, Mrs. Dilley was born in 1875, and two years later came with her parents to Klickitat county, where she received her educa- tion. Mr. and Mrs. Dilley have two children : Al- ger I., born August 20, 1897, and Edna, born April 3, 1902. Sheriff Dilley, besides being prom- inent and influential in political affairs, is also an active lodge man, being a charter member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, in North Yakima, and a Knight of Pythias. Both himself and Mrs. Dilly are well known socially, and possess many warm friends. They are members of the Methodist church. Mr. Dilley's property interests consist of his homestead, of which a goodly por- tion is improved, and some stock.

CHARLES H. BRECKENRIDGE is one of Yakima's esteemed and successful farmers, who makes his home in the well known Glade settle- ment, fourteen miles southwest of Mabton. He is a native of the Buckeye state, born in 1856, to the union of Andrew and Mahala ( Berfield) Brecken- ridge. Andrew Breckenridge was born in Canada and came to Ohio with his parents when a boy. Having married one of its daughters, he removed in 1865 to Iowa, where he was engaged in agricul- tural pursuits until his death in the spring of 1896. In 1862 he enlisted in the Union army and served until the last disloyal gun was silenced. Mrs. Breckenridge is still living.

Until he reached man's estate, the subject of our sketch lived on his father's farm, securing, in the local schools, a fair education ; then he bought a farm and cultivated it for three years. At the end of that time he sold out and engaged in rail- road work. After four years' experience in this line he went to Missouri and resumed farnting, re- maining there until 1897. During the next three years he tilled a farm in Nebraska, but the year 1900 found him in Clarkston, Washington. Tlie following spring he filed a homestead claim to his present ranch and since that time he has been en- gaged in farming, stock raising and locating homesteaders.

In 1884, while a resident of Missouri, Mr. Breckenridge married Mrs. Anna King, who was formerly the wife of Samuel King. She is the daughter of William and Mary (Sherfey) Barlow, natives of Indiana and Tennessee, respectively. Her father was a miller. In an early day he set- tled in Missouri, where he and his wife resided until death claimed them. Four children were born to Mr. and Mrs. King: Arthur S., Mrs. Belle Noe, Mrs. Dora Forman and Mrs. Mollie For- man, the last three of whom are living in Yakima county. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Brecken- ridge are as follows: Andrew, born March 19. 1885; Archie F., December 14, 1886; Allen J.,

August 13, 1890; Jennie, November 4, 1892; Jes- sie, October 15, 1894; Eula, October 10, 1897; and Fern, May 30, 1899, the first being born in Nebraska, the second in Kansas, the next three in Missouri and the two younger in Nebraska. Mr. Breckenridge is affiliated with the Modern Woodmen. He is an active and steadfast Repub- lican and he and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church. His quarter section of land is all under cultivation and is a substantial testimonial to the industry and capabilities of its owner. Mr. Breckenridge is highly respected by those who know him and is a man of excellent standing in the community.

ROBERT DOROTHY. Half way between Mabton and Bickleton lies the well known Glade settlement, a farming and stock raising commu- nity, of which the subject of this sketch is one of the earliest pioneers, and his family the first to establish a home there. Mr. Dorothy came to the Glade in May, 1885, taking a homestead and a timber culture claim. About the same time four or five others settled in this little valley. For many years they did their trading at Prosser, twenty miles distant, Mabton not being in existence then. At first these settlers devoted most of their attention to stock raising, but in late years grain has been the community's principal product, in the raising of which Mr. Dorothy has been unusually success- ful.

Robert Dorothy was born January 10, 1855, near Ottumwa, Iowa, a son of Charles and Mar- garet (Way) Dorothy. Charles Dorothy, a farmer and stockman, was born in Indiana in 1818, to pioneers of that state, and early in life came to Iowa, settling in Wapato county. So primitive were conditions on that frontier at the time, he used a horse and a cow as a team with which to cultivate his land. His death occurred in 1878. Margaret Way was born in 1820, in Ohio; she died in November, 1897. The father was of Irish and Scotch descent. At the age of sixteen the lad Robert started out in the world, first working for others and then leasing land. He bought his first pair of boots with money earned husking corn in a field where the snow lay a foot deep. All of his first earnings were divided with his parents. When the Black Hills mining excitement swept over the country it caught the young farmer and swept him into that auriferous region. The following spring he went south to the mines just north of Denver. His father's death about that time called him home and there he was married and lived for a short time, removing thence to Andrew county, Missouri. Misfortune met him there, a flood destroying his entire crop the season after his arrival. After a residence of a year and a half in Cowley county, Kansas, Mr. Dorothy decided

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to remove to the Northwest and, as heretofore stated, settled in Yakima county.

His bride November 4, 1880, was Miss Sarah E. Smith, a native daughter of Monroe county, Iowa, born in 1859. She is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. James S. Smith, the father a native of Ohio, and one of Iowa's frontier farmers. Mrs. Dorothy has one brother, Arza, living in Yakima county, and two sisters, Mrs. Hattie Spencer of Yakima county, and Mrs. Emma Randall of Walla Walla. Mr. Dorothy's brothers and sisters are: Elias, Nebraska; William, Henry and Enoch, Iowa; Gibson, Idaho; Mrs. Harriet Barrow, Idaho; Mrs. Mary E. Barrow, Missouri; Mrs. Myra Wintermote, Nebraska; and Mrs. Lavina Dale, Iowa. The children are: Mrs. Arlie B. Jacot, residing in the Glade ; Ila and Ellis, living at home. Mr. Dorothy is a member of Modern Woodmen Camp, No. 6,249, of Bickleton; in politics he is an independent voter, lending his strength to the best man rather than to the party; and in educa- tional matters, he has always been and is devoted to the upbuilding of good schools. He was one of the organizers of the Glade district and has served on the board since its establishment. He and his wife are both consistent members of the Methodist church and highly esteemed by a large circle of friends. Among Mr. Dorothy's experi- ences as a pioneer in the Glade, the most vivid in his memory is one which occurred in 1887. He was in the mountains fifteen miles from home, engaged in cutting fence rails, and for three weeks saw no person except an Indian. His wife and one child remained at home all alone. While thus situated, he was suddenly taken sick and after making many attempts to travel and failing, was in the depths of despondency when he was found and brought out by a settler who had gone to the mountains for wood. Mr. Dorothy owns three hundred and twenty acres of well improved land and is recognized as an influential man of ability and integrity.

WILLIAM D. HOISINGTON, a progressive farmer, lives about three miles northeast of the town of Bickleton, in Yakima county, Washing- ton, on the farm consisting of one hundred and sixty acres of well cultivated land, which was homesteaded by Mrs. Hoisington. Near-by is Mr. Hoisington's homestead of one hundred and sixty acres. He was born in Ohio on January 28, 1871, the son of John and Mary (Sessions) Hoising- ton. His father was an Ohio farmer, of German parentage, and a Civil war veteran. He enlisted in the Second Ohio volunteers, and served for three years and a half, being wounded at the bat- tle of Gettysburg, and for three months obliged to remain in one of the army hospitals. He is now living at Woodstock, Ohio. His mother was

also a native of the state of Ohio, and the mother of four children. She died in her native state when her son was seven years old. He attended the schools of Ohio, and also the Idaho State University, and upon reaching the age of eighteen, took up the molder's trade at the La- fayette Car Works in his state, following that vocation for two years. In the month of May, 1889, he went to Pennsylvania, and after a short stay inade a trip to Alabama, and then returned to Ohio and followed his trade for the next two years. At the expiration of that time he re- moved to Chillicothe, Missouri, and became in- terested with some stockmen there, passing six months in that business. His next move was to Denver, Colorado, where he followed freighting for six months, then went to Salt Lake City and learned the brick. trade. He worked at this for five months in the employ of W. S. Simpkins. The succeeding few months were spent in travel- ing through California and Oregon, and in the latter state he engaged in the hop business; the fall and winter of the same year being spent in the timber of Oregon. In the spring of 1892 he put in a brickyard at Brownsville, Oregon, and the next summer ran a mill in Pullman, Washing- ton. That fall he removed to Kendrick, Idaho, and took up farming; remaining there a year, when he returned to Brownsville, Oregon. In the fall of 1895 he moved to Yakima county, Washington, taking up a homestead, which he has since farmed, and also ran sheep for Cunningham and Smythe during that period.

He was married on December 13, 1900, in Yakima county, to Alice Wattenbarger, whose father, Conrad, was a Missouri farmer, crossing the Plains in the early days and settling in Cali- fornia. He is now living at Bickleton, Washing- ton. Her mother, Mary (Brophy) Wattenbar- ger, was a native of California, her parents crossing the Plains in an early day to that state. Mrs. H. was born July 31, 1877, and left Cali- fornia for Washington when three years old. She was educated in the Bickleton schools, and mar- ried at the age of twenty-three. Mr. Hoisington belongs to the Modern Woodmen of America and Knights of Pythias, and politically is a Repub- lican. Mrs. Hoisington is a member of the Meth- odist church. He is making a specialty of hog raising, having one hundred and fifty porkers on the ranch, and is counted one of the well-to-do farmers of the locality.

CHARLES A. BERNEY is a prosperous and well-to-do farmer of Yakima county, living two miles northeast of Bluelight postoffice, and own- ing a large farm of six hundred and forty acres. He is still in the prime of life, being horn on November 16, 1863, in one of the prov- inces of Switzerland. Charles L. Berney, his

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BIOGRAPHICAL.

father, was a Swiss watchmaker and well versed in his craft, dying, however, at the age of forty- one at his home in Switzerland. Amedine (Rachet) Berney, his mother, was also a native of Switzerland, of French Huguenot parentage ; she died in 1866, when her son was barely three years old. Mr. Berney received his education in the schools of his native country, also learning farming there, and when nineteen years of age crossed the Atlantic and came to Minnesota, where he spent six months. In December, 1883, he went to Walla Walla, Washington. Purchas- ing there a wagon and team, he continued to Klickitat county and settled on a strip of railroad land. He lived upon it only a short time, how- ever. Taking up in earnest the stock business, he devoted the ensuing twelve or fifteen years to raising cattle, horses and other live stock. In 1886, he filed on a homestead in Yakima county, which he abandoned before proving up, but in 1898 he took up another, upon which he made final proof years later. This land has all been put into cultivation, as also an additional half section of railroad land, which he bought later. The farm includes two acres of fine orchard.

Mr. Berney was married in Yakima county in 1896 to Laura Miller. His father-in-law, Chris- tian Miller, is a Swiss farmer who came to this country in 1884, settling at Rockford, Illinois, and living there until the spring of 1890, when he moved to the state of Washington. He is now living in the Glade district of Yakima county, eleven miles northeast of the city of Bickleton. Elizabeth (Jacot) Miller, the mother, was also of Swiss birth and was married in her native land. Mrs. Berney was born in Switzer- land, February 15, 1875, and was educated there in part, though she completed her education in the schools of Rockford, Illinois. Mr. and Mrs. Berney have two sons, Lovell C. and Louis A., born on November 1, 1898, and July 1, 1900, re- spectively. Blanche L. Berney, the youngest child and only daughter, was born in Yakima county, December 10, 1901. Mr. Berney has suc- ceeded in placing over four hundred acres of his land under cultivation. and besides his large orchard, has goodly herds of various kinds of live stock. He is an active Republican and an ex- school director of his district ; well thought of by his neighbors, and a man of excellent character and standing in the community.

ARTHUR JACOT is a popular and highly respected young Yakima county farmer, living eleven miles southwest of Mabton in what is known as the Glade. His native land is Switzer- land, where he was born in 1868, and among its fertile vales and rugged, snow-crowned crags, in the heart of the Alps, he spent his early years. The father, David Jacot, was also a native of

Switzerland, and by trade was a watchmaker. He died when Arthur was only a few months old. The mother, Elise Jacot, was married to Mr. Jacot when seventeen years of age. After his death in 1869 she was married to Christ Miller, and with him emigrated from her native land to America. Mr. and Mrs. Miller are living in Yak- ima county now. Arthur Jacot received a good education in the schools of Switzerland and at the age of thirteen was apprenticed to the watch- maker's trade. Four years of experience in his trade satisfied him of his competency and he de- cided to come to the United States. So, in 1885, when seventeen years old, he left the little Eu- ropean republic for the great American republic, settling first in Illinois. There he engaged in farming for five years, having left his trade for agricultural pursuits, meeting with encouraging success. In 1890, he came to Washington, just admitted as a state, and in the Glade settled upon a homestead and timber culture claim, where he has since lived. In the period that has elapsed since 1890, his energy, perseverance and skill have transformed the erstwhile half section of desert into a well improved farm, every acre of which is in cultivation.

Mr. Jacot was united in marriage to Miss Arlie Dorothy, daughter of Robert and Sarah (Smith1) Dorothy, residents of the Glade, in 1900. Mr. Dorothy is a native of Iowa, and previous to com- ing to Washington territory in 1884, he had fol- lowed farming in Missouri and Kansas. Subse- quently he became a settler in the Glade. Mrs. Dorothy is also an Iowan, her parents having been pioneers of that state. She was married when twenty-one years old. Mrs. Jacot was born in Iowa in 1881, received her education in the schools of Yakima county and was eighteen years of age when married. One child, Dorothy, born April 1, 1903, has blessed the union. Mr. and Mrs. Jacot are members of the Methodist church. He has served as first vice-president of the Epworth League and is regarded as an active churchman. Fraternally, he is connected with the Modern Woodmen of America; politically, he is loyal to the Republican party and an admirer of President Roosevelt. Besides his fine farm- a monument to his industry-Mr. Jacot owns thirteen head of horses and a number of fine cattle. His friends are numbered by the score, as are also the friends of Mrs. Jacot, and all who come in contact with them can only esteem them and wish them a bon voyage to the end of life's journey.

CHARLES M. SMITH lives about a mile east of Bluelight postoffice in Yakima county, Washington. He was born in Cass county, Ne- braska, Mav 25, 1868. His father, William T. Smith, was born in Kentucky in 1837, his parents

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being pioneers of Iowa, and of Irish blood. When young he moved to Nebraska, was married there, and is now living in Nebraska City, Ne- braska. Addie (Beach) Smith, his mother, was a native of Ohio, of Scotch parentage, dying in Nebraska when her son was very young. Mr. Smith received his education in the public schools of Nebraska City, and when seventeen years old was employed by the Nebraska & Iowa Packing House. He severed his connections with this firm after a year's labor, and for six years fol- lowing worked with an uncle and helped him care for a large farm. For two years he was employed as a mechanic in the repair shops located at Plattsmouth, Nebraska. From 1893 to 1899 he took up farming again ; in the spring of the latter year moving to the state of Washington. On May 5, 1899, he filed on a homestead, which has since been his place of residence. At present he has one hundred and twenty acres of plowed land.

On January 5, 1892, he was united in marriage to Addie P. Graves, the ceremony being per- formed in Nebraska. His wife was the daugh- ter of Elbert L. Graves, a farmer, and a native of Tennessee, who moved to Nebraska in the early days. He is now living at Bluelight, where he is postmaster. Her mother, Ellie A. (Carrell) Graves, was a native of Nebraska, and was married in Missouri. His wife, also a Ne- braskan, was educated in the public schools, and married when only sixteen years of age. There have been two children as a result of this union, Della A. Smith, born in Nebraska, January 4, 1894, deceased March 15, 1895. and Elizabeth B. Smith, born in Yakima county, March 27, 1901. Mr. Smith is a member of the United Brethren church, and in politics, casts his vote with the Democratic party. He is esteemed by his fellow citizens as an upright, conscientious man.

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An illustrated history of Klickitat, Yakima and Kittitas counties; with an outline of the early history of the state of Washington, Part 166

Author: Interstate publishing co., Chicago, pub Publication date: 1904 Publisher: [Chicago] Interstate publishing company Number of Pages: 1146

Author: Interstate publishing co., Chicago, pub
Publication date: 1904
Publisher: [Chicago] Interstate publishing company
Number of Pages: 1146